Name
George Henry French
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19992
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 50-52
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
George Henry French was born in 1890 in Hitchin and was christened there on 6 August 1890. His parents were Alfred and Alice French (née Welch).
In 1891 the family were living at Pea Hen Alley, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Alfred (38) and Alice (35), with Alfred working as a general labourer. Their children were: Florence (12), Kate (9), Alfred (6), William (4) and George Henry (8 months). Also present were two boarders, Alice Bird (18) and Ada Bird (2 months).
By 1901 the family were living at St Andrew’s Street, Hitchin. George’s mother, Alice, was now a widow and working as a laundress. The children now listed were Kate (19), Alfred (16), William (14), George (11) and a grandson, Frederick just 7 months.
Then in 1911 the family were living at 5 Ivy Hill, Queen Street, Hitchin. Alice was present and George Henry appears to be calling himself Harry, he was 20 and working on the skins at a fellmonger. His elder brother was still living with his mother as was her grandson Frederick French.
Before the war he played football and was known as a quick and clever half-back, playing in Hitchin. He was the secretary of St Saviour’s football club and played piano at socials and concerts in the town. He had been working at Russell’s Tanyard, but had left Hitchin in May 1914 and was working at a cola mine in Abertillery, South Wales.
George married Ethel Dear in 1914 and it was reported that when he died they had on child aged 13 months.
The Soldiers Died in the Great War database suggest s that he was associated with Leicester, however we believe that this is a transcription error.
Wartime Service
He volunteered in January 1915 and was sent to the Western Front on 18 July that year. He was given Service No. 19992 in the 9th Battalion of the Regiment which was part of the 58th Brigade in the 19th Division of the Indian Corps of the 1st Anny. Two months later he was killed in action near Ypres.
His death coincides with the Battle of Loos when the Battalion was immediately north of Givenchy. This was the first serious engagement involving the Division and they suffered heavy losses in their attack.
Captain K T Nicholl, from his regiment wrote : “Dear Mrs French, it is with deepest regret that I write to tell you of the death of your husband, Pte. G. H. French, of my company. I hope the War Office has already sent you an official notification. He was killed in action on Sept. 25th, and died instantly from a shell which burst close to him. He had done excellent work ever since he had been out here, and for some time had been an officer's orderly. His death is a great loss to the company. I would have written before but have been so fearfully busy that I have not had a second. My deepest sympathy goes out to you and to all his relations and friends."
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panels 50 to 52 of the Loos Memorial to the Missing, Pas de Calais, France.
Additional Information
His entry in the National Roll of the Great War – submitted by family, suggests that he was killed in an engagement near Ypres, however, he may have fought there but he was killed in France in the Battle of Loos.
After his death £1 11s 2d was authorised to go to his widow on 14 January 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 7 August 1919.
There are several pension cards for George. One lists his mother, Alice, at 6 Taylor’s Cottages, Old Park Road, Hitchin, but other cards records Ethel, his widow, as his next of kin, living at Oak Dene, Kershaws Hill, Hitchin and it is the latter that records a pension award of 15s a week from 10 April 1916.
His photograph some from an In Memoriam’ notice placed in the North Herts Mail on 28 September 1916.
His medals were applied for on 15 February 1921.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
